Hinged ski



Oct. 19, 1943.

R. B. SMITH.

HINGED sx1 Fiid Nov. 12, 1941 Patented Oct. 19, 1943 f'assaiois nissen sin "nobertesisnsmitn, santa Mnica, oeuf.l f Y Application sovmbe'riz, 1941,`seri`i No. 418,808 l 12 Claims. (ol. also-11.13) Y l l l fFig. 3is.1aperspective view-of onefof; the. hinges; A s

This invention isla novel improvement in folding skisn which the ski isvprovided with ihinged sections :which will permitA the ski to begreadily and conveniently folded insuchmanner'that the front and rear sections when foldedl will be disposed substantiallyvparallel, vand folded ski rbeing amoroximatelyv half the length of the normal ski.` Ordinary skis are 'generally'aboutlsevenfeet in length; and the inconvenienceV of.r transporting same because of their length is well known, said lengthlpreventing same from being carried inside the usual automobile body, and rendering Vsame inconvenient for shipping by train or thellike due to the fact that they require a special rack, or must be voratedy to prevent, breakage,

Theprincipal objects of my'. invention are to provide aski having a` hinge 4of minimum weight, and of inexpensive construction, which hinge isA simple to operate since the. necessity of using a wrench, screwdriver, or other 'tool' in order to make or break the lock in folding and 'unfolding the .ski isnot required; also a hinged ski inwhich` the two hinged sectionsV thereof cannot come apart .in that no parts of the hinge kitself mayv become disassembled; alsof to provide a hingefor -a sk'iwhich wllnot reduce the strength of theV ski, and 'a hinge which therefore maybedisposed at or near thecenter ofthe ski Without sacrificing the' strength of thejvski,v vthefvv'eakest partV ofthe normal sk'being` at a' point someidis tance ahead'of the center of the ski also topro-V vide a ski hinge and lock in which thepfront andl rear niembersof the hinge willbe held inrigid alignment wth`respect to eachother when the members are locked such position; to provide aski hinge in Awhich the lockjis adapted `to take up any playy or, looseness between-the members thereof which may arise due to wear orto 'inanui 'alcturingtolerance; Aandfurtlier to provide "a hinged ski in vvhioh'thefrunning surface thereofkv constantlyremainsmooth.` 1

I will explain the invention lwith reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate oney practical embodilnentthereofto .enable others familiar with the art toadopt and usethe same;`

and'vvill Vsummarize Yin the claims, the novel feav tures or construction, and novel combinations of parts, for `which'protection 4is desired` Insaid drawings: f

' Fig; `1 is a perspective view of adjacent sec@ tions of 'a connected togetherby ,my novel hinge, .showing :the sectionsin normal aligned Fig. 2 a y,person'ctive view thereof showing als sections of the ski in fielded position. 'I z detached, showing the members thereofpin-v un. lockeduanddisaligned position, e g .s f l, Fig; 'isxan elevation ofA the.-ligingev detached;

showingin full lines the members in alignedand locked position, and showing infdotted lines/ione. member of the hinge in fullyffolded position; and showing in dot-and-dashI lines one-member of the 'hinge .in an intermediate folded position., ,z

.Y Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line l{if-5 tionship, said. sections having- Pcomp1ement/ary beveiedrends Fandnfrutf ai an angie of ap, l proximately 60.o with respect rto the-horizontal Y plane, Valthough the .angle may bevariedl thev beveled ends Ff andi RX permitting tliiesrectQriSv E and Rta be readilyfolded andmaklllgA Possible the use'of my novel locking hinge, and .further v allowing the running surface oiftheialgned' ccf 4tions to be "kept Asmooth `with no gapprecziabl gap.

Membersland 2 yare adapted to abutfin aligned v s y rian'on' as shown 'in rigs. 1' and 4j,"` ,the abutting ends of thev channels beingbeveled;asj'atin, 2a Fig. 1),fat the same' 'angle asthe abuttingfends ofthe ski sections. vPreferably the v'hinge is dis-v posed Iadjacent the center of the "skiso as to'loicatevthefootbindingKnot sh'ownflvvvhich'holdsf the toe-ofthe ski boot to the ski aboutftwo inches behindfthe center vof 'the' hinge; but'the hinge mayhedisposed-inany other-desired'position. 'f'- l Y inthe bosom of the channelmemberstl' and v2 areadditional IWebmembers 3 andrlshown'more partcularlyzrin'igsi 3 .and 4; the .samebeing preferably Weldedto the "upperand lower flanges ofthe channel members Land 2v asindcated; the addtionaliwebs 3l and 4 being spaced miproitimatelyone-eighth of .an `inc h1.fr: m the. webs of the channel members .l and 2 and `parallel therewith. The inner end-sof thefwebs l3 and! are also beveledzas at 3a,4a lparallel withand opposite thelbeveied ends la, 2a of the.shann-elmemin anch theski provided 1 with a front section fF, and -a rear :sectionit,V which in normal position are in .abutting ,rela-gbeing perforated to receive bolts or rivets 6 and I in double shear which transiix the Webs of the channel members I and 2 and the additional Webs 3 and 4, thev endsof the bolts or rivets being enlarged to prevent same from dropping or backing out of their holes in the channels and webs. The

lower anges of channel members I and 2 are4 slotted inwardly as at 8 (Fig. 2) to points beyond the bolts or rivets 6 and I to permit link 5 to swing freely on its pivots 6 and .'I. `Link 5 thus permits the channel member luto be swung down-- wardly, around and under the ychannel member 2,.

as indicated in Fig. 4. Y,

If desired, an aligning tongue 9 may be secured between the web of channel "I and the additional web 3 thereof adjacent the upper ange of channel I, said tongue being adapted to enter between the web of channel 2 and its additional web 4 when the members I and 2 are in normal aligned position. However, the tongue 9 is not essential and may be omitted.

The upper flange of the channel member 2 adjacent the beveled end Zais somewhat widened as at 2c, and carries oniits upper surface a wedgeshaped plate I thickest at its outer end, said plate I Il having a'longitudinalslot Illa therein extending inwardly from its outer end. Welded on the additional web 3 of the channel member I is a bolt II, the axis of whichcrosses the line of bevel of theends Ia and 3a of channel member I, `said bolt extending above the upper ange of thechannel I and being adapted to enter the slot Illa. in beveled plate I0 of channel 2, said bolt II carrying a thumb or Wing nut I2 or the like, adapted when the parts are in normal position 'shown in Figs. land i to be screwed down without the aid of a wrench or other tool to seat upon the wedge plate I0 and thereby lock the channel members I, 2 in aligned position, the base of nut I2 seating squarely upon the top, ofthe bevel plate III. The outer end of boltfll is enlargedto prevent nut` I2 from'becoming disengaged with theI bolt. By the above construction', the bolt II welded to the additional web 3 and carrying the wing nut I2, and the slotted plate I0, constitute the lock of the hinge. v

' Eachhinge unit is secured onthe side edge of the ski sections F and R by screws rI3 or the like,- three being shown oneach member I and2, pass-V ingthrough holes provided therefor in the webs of the channels I "and 2 and through the additional webs 3 and l. The bosom ofthe channel members I and 2 snugly receive thesides ofthe ski sections F andf'R which-may beV recessed to receive the channel members I and 2, so that the outer faces of the; channel angesand web lie flush with'the tops, sides and bottoms of the ski sections;'and as previously stated the hinge members aresomounted that the beveled ends of the channels I .and 2. Vare disposed directly opposite the beveled eiidFf and R of skiisections F and R. In'order tofoldthe ski,'the wing nuts I2 must be `suflicientlvi unscrewed or loosened, and then the front sectionlF and channel' members of the hinge'are' free to rotate about rivet or pin 6. When thus rotated approximately 90 or into the position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig.'4, fui-ther rotation can take place about. pin. 1. or

into position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4; and the corner of channel I will clear the bottom of channel 2. Correspondingly, when the hinge is straightened out, one quarter turn must first take place around pin 'I and then a second quarter turn about pin 6, or until the hinge is straight.

Y mits the ski to fold; and second, it makes the lock' possible, as that when the wing nut I2 is tightened, the front and rear halves of the ski andv hinge are pulled together, and the front halves tend to slide upwardly with respect to the rear valves until they are in contact along the full length of the diagonal cut, thus holding the front and rear halves in alignment at all times. Also, as the pinsA 6 and 'I vor links 5 may wear somewhat due to use, the play will be taken up by the front halves sliding up a little further than normally, but the correct alignment of the ski sections will still be maintained. Since the wing nut lock is disposed on the upper surface of the hinge, the lock does not interfere in any way with the installation of the ski boot binding.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

1. A ski comprising vrunner sections having their adjacent ends adapted to abut in a transverse plane disposed at an angle to the plane of the aligned section; hinge units connecting the sections; each unit including a pair of members secured to the respective sides of the sections and ,adapted to abut in the plane of the ends ol' the sections, a link having its ends pivoted tothe respective members of the pair whereby the sections may beswung from alignment into spaced parallel relation, and means on the members for locking same in abutting position, said vlocking means comprising a slotted ange at the upper edge of one member; a projection on the other member crossing the beveled end thereof and extending above the upper edge thereof and adapted to' enter the slot in the flange when the members are aligned; and means on said projectionadapted to engage the top of said slotted flange.

, 2. A ski comprising front and rear runnersectionshaving their adjacent ends adapted to abut in a transverse planedisposed at an angle to the plane of the aligned sections; hinge units connecting the sections; each unit including a pair of channel members secured to the respective sides of the sections and adapted to abut in the plane of the ends of the sections, a link having its ends pivoted to the respective channel members of the pair whereby the sections may be swung from alignment into spaced parallel relation, and means on the members for drawing the members into abutting contact and for maintaining same in such position, additional webs secured in said channel members between the flanges thereof and spaced -from and parallel with the webs of the channels; said additional webs being adapted to abut in the plane of the ends of the sections; said links entering the spaces between the webs of the channels and the additional webs; pivot pins `transiixing the links and passing through the channel webs and additional webs; and the yflanges of the channels "adjacent thrlinks being Vslotted t permltswingin'gtmovementof the links. Y

. n ski comprising front and rear runner secti'cn's having their adjacent ends adapted to Vabut in a transverse plane disposed at an yangle to the plane fof the aligned sections; hinge units vconnecting -the sections; each unit including `a lpairof channel members .secured to the respec- 'tivelsi'des oi- 'the sections andy adapted to .abut .in the vplane ci. the ends .of the sections, a link having its ends pivotedt'o the respective channel ,members offthe pair whereby 'the sections vmay beswungirom alignment kinto spaced parallel relation, and means on the members Ifor 4drawiing the .membersinto abutting :contact and for maintaining same in' such position, additional webs secured inrsaidchannel members between Yflanges thereof and spaced vfrom and parallel lwith the .webs 4'of 'the channels; said additional :webs `being'adapted to'a'but in' the plane of the ends Vel the sections; .said links entering the fspacesbetween theweb's 'of the channels and 'the .additional webs 'and disposed substantially parallel with and adjacent to thefflanges of the =channel.mehflb'ers' when aligned; 'pivot pins transxfng'thellinks and passing through the `channel websfan'd additional webs; and the bottom .flanges of the channels being slette'd 'to permit swinging movement of the links.A i

le, A ski comprising front land rear runner sections .having their adjacent 'ends adapted to abut in' a .transverse plane disposed at .an angle to the plane of the aligned sections; hinge units .connectingthe sections; each unit 'including ai pair of channel members securedto the respecin the plane of the ends of the sections, a link having its ends pivoted to the respective channel membersof 'the pair. whereby the` sections may be swung from alignment into spaced parallel relation, and means on the members for drawing the members into abutting contact and for maintaining same in such position, additional webs secured in said Vchannel members between the Vflanges thereof and spaced from and parallel with the'webs of the channels; said additional webs being adapted to abut in the plane of the ends of the sections; saidlinks entering the spaces between the webs of the channels and the additional webs and disposed substantially parallel with and -adjacent tothe bottomilangesof the channel members when aligned; pivot pins transfixing the links and passing through the channel webs and additional webs; the bottom flanges ing the 'members nite abutting'contact and for .maintainingsame insuchposition, said drawing and locking means comprising! a slot in the upper 'flange of one channel of eaclrpalr; al bolt rigidly secured to the web of the other channel and extending above the upper flange thereof, the axis ci the bolt: crossing the beveled end of said channel; said bolt entering the slot` infthe first channel when the channels are aligned; and a Wing nut on'the boltadaptedto engage the top of the slotted flange.

t, A ski comprising front and rear runner sections having their adjacent yends adapted to abut ln a transverse plane disposed vat substantially to the plane of the aligned sections; hinge units connecting thefsections.; each unit including a pair of'channelntembers secured to the resp'ec tive sides ofthe sectibns andadapted to abut in the plane of the `ends of 'the sections', av link having ltsends pivoted` to thev respective channel members of 'the pair whereby the sections may .be swung from alignment'into spaced parallel relation; a "slot in the upper fiangejofone channel; a projection rigidly secured tothe :web of the other channel and disposed substantially atright .angles to said link, said'projection crossing the beveled end'ol said: otherchannel .and

.tivfe `sides of the sections fand'fadapted to abut n of the channels being slotted to permit swinging movement of the links; and aligning tongues secured in the spaces between the channel webs and additional webs of one channel of each pair and disposed adjacent the upper flanges thereof and adapted to enter the corresponding spaces in the other channels when the channels are aligned.

5. A ski comprising front and rear runner sections having their adjacent ends adapted to abut in a` transverse plane disposed at an angle to the plane of the aligned sections; hinge units connecting the sections; eachvunit including a pair of channel members secured to the respective sides of the sections andadapted to abut vin the plane of the ends of the sections, a link having its ends pivoted to the respective channel members of the pair whereby the sections'may be swung from alignment into spaced parallel extending above theupper nange of said other channeLandJb'eing adapted to enter the slot in the first channel whenthe` channels are.

aligned; and means onthe vprojection adapted 'to engage the tcp of salid'slotted `flange for drawing the'channels into abutting contact and for l l.locking thegchannels in such position.

,7.1 In aski as set forth iny claim 6, additional webs secured in saidV channel members-'between the flanges thereof' 'andspaced from' and parallel with. the webs -of the channels; said additional .webs being adapted to. abutv in the 'plane of 1 the ends cf.'V `thesections.; said@ links .entering lthe spacesybetween .thewebs of the channels and 'the additional webs; pivot pins transxingthe links and passing through the channels webs and additional webs; and the flanges of the channels adjacent the links being slotted to permit swinging movement of the links. y

8. In a ski as set forth in claim 6, additional webs' secured in said channel members between the flanges thereof and spaced fromv and parallel with the webs of the channels; said additional vwebs being adapted to abut in the plane of rthe ends of the sections; said links entering the spaces between the webs of the channels and the additional webs and disposed substantially parallel with and adjacent to the flanges of the channel members when aligned; pivot pins trans- 'xing the links and passing through the channel webs and additional webs; and thebottom flanges of` the channels being slotted to permit swingingvmovement of the links.

9. In a sin as set forth in claim t, additional webs secured in said channel members between the flanges thereof and Aspaced from and parallel with the webs of the channels; said additional webs being adapted to abut in the plane of the ends of the` sections; said .links entering .the

spaces between the webs of the channels and the additional webs and disposed substantially parallel with and adjacent to the bottom flanges of the channel members when aligned; pivot pins Atransflxing the links and passing through the channel webs and` additional webs;` the bottom flanges of the ChanneIsbeing slotted to permit swinging movement of the links; and aligning tongues secured inthe spaces between the channel webs and additional webs of one channel of each pair and disposed adjacent the upper flanges thereof and adapted to enter the corresponding spaces inthe other channels when the channels are aligned.

10. A ski comprising runner sections having their adjacent ends adapted to abut in a transverse plane disposed at an angleto the plane of the aligned sections; hinge unitsy connecting the sections, each unit including a pair of members secured to the respective sides of the sections and adaptedl to abut in the plane of the ends of the sections; a link having its ends pivoted to the respective membersl of the pair whereby the sections may be swung from alignment into spaced parallel relation; the upper corner of the abutting end of the overlying member having a slot therein; and a projection carried by the other member adapted te cross the beveled end thereof and to extend above the upper face of said slotted member and to enter the slot when the members are aligned; and means on said projection adapted to engage the upper face oi said slotted member to lock same in abutting relation.

l1. A ski comprising front and rear runner sections having their adjacent ends adapted to abut in a transverse plane disposed at an angle to the plane of the aligned sections; hinge units connecting the sections, each unit including a pair of channel members secured to the respective sides of the sections and adapted to abut in the plane of the ends of the sections, a link having its ends pivoted to the respective channel members of the pair whereby the sections may be swung from alignment into spaced p'arallel relation; the outer corner of the upper flange cf `the abutting.,end of the overlying channel having a.s1oi'l therein; a projection Acarried by the otherl channel adaptedrtocross the beveled end thereof and to extend abovevthe upper ilange lthereof and to enter the slot when the channels are aligned; and means on said projection adapted to engage the upper flange of said slotted channel for drawing the channels into abutting contact and for maintaining same in such position.

12. A ski comprising front and rear runner sections having their adjacent ends adapted to abut in a transverse plane disposed atan angle to the plane of the aligned sections; hinge units connecting the sections, each unit including a pair of channel members secured to the respective sides of the sections and adapted to abut in the plane of the ends of the sections; additional webs secured in said channel members between the ilanges thereof and spaced from and parallel with the webs of the channels; said additional webs being adapted to abut in the plane of the ends of the sections; a link having its ends pivoted to the respective channel members of the Dair whereby the sections may be swung from alignment into spaced parallel relation, said link entering the spaces between the webs of the channels and the additional webs; pivot pins transxing the link and passing through the channel webs and additional webs; the flanges of the channels adjacent the links being recessed to permit swinging movement of the links; the upper corner of the abutting end of the overlying channel member having a slot therein, and a projection carried by the other channel adapted to cross the beveled end thereof and to extend above the upper ange of the slotted channel and to enter the slot when the channels are aligned; and means on said projection adapted to engage the upper flange of the slotted channel for drawing the members into abutting contact and for maintaining same in such position.

ROBERT BEA'I'ON SMITH. 

